Hello,

I often suffer from right hand thumb pain due to clarinet playing and pc mouse use. My doctor friend and my chiropractor have both suggested that I get the thumb rest moved a little bit higher (it's adjustable and can't go any further up).

Recently, I have come across Ton Kooiman thumb rest. I understand it can be used for clarinets, oboes and saxophones.

Just wanted to know if anyone in this forum has actually used it and if it was useful? Are you aware of any other brands that supply ergonomically designed thumb rests?

Thanks!

When my thumb gets sore after extended playing I use a clarinet sling.
Tequila has one so you could try a PM to her if she doesn't pick up on this thread in the next day or so.

I use a sling and hold the bell between my knees which helps. But I have noticed myself, it is primarily due to the position of the thumb rest. I could see the muscles between the index finger and thumb is under strain.

I am currently using student model Jupiter resin clarinet. I want to make sure that I deal with this problem before I move to the expensive wooden models. After all, they are heavier and I don't want to make holes for the new thumb rest without knowing if it's going to work!

I will PM Tequila after couple of days. Thanks for your advice sbhoa.

I had my thumb rest moved on my old R13s and it made a world of difference. I'd been having physio and all sorts of pain before then and have hardly suffered at all since then, even on my heavier Toscas.

My teacher suggested that it should be moved so that the thumb rest is in line with the middle of the first hole of the right hand.
It's not a particularly difficult job for a repairer to do - my repairer did it during my lunch break in a rehearsal!

As a teacher I would discourage the use of neck straps as it changes the posture and doesn't put the clarinet at an ideal angle into your mouth.

Hope that all helps!

Doesn't that depend on how you adjust it?
I adjust the strap with reference to how I hold the clarinet when playing.

Daughter was having thumb problems and her teacher recommended that she get Ton Kooiman thumbrests fitted on her A and Bb clarinets. She was able to try his first, before taking the plunge. She took about a week to get used to them - moaned copiously at first - but wouldn't be without them now. Her spare clarinet never gets played, mostly because it doesn't have a TK thumbrest fitted....

Shop around as they vary enormously in price. Dawkes were cheapest when we were looking, and get them properly fitted. Our technician fitted some extra screws as she was aware of people who'd had problems with them dropping off....

In my experience you can never quite adjust the sling to the right angle - but that's not saying that it's not possible!

I've never had much luck with neckstraps either, but that is probably my incompetence at adjusting them.

I have friends who swear by the Kooiman thumbrests. The cheaper one in particular has a largish dent where your thumb goes that with my undersized thumb means that takes all the weight not the rest itself. Most people over the age of about 12 have more normal sized hands than me.

I used to have a lot of hand pain partivularly in my middle 2 fingers. Just getting a standard thumbrest in a better position (lower than normal for me) made the balance of the instrument much better and reduced the hand problems overnight.

Thank you, everyone!

Halka, is your daughter's thumb rest etude2 or maestro? The thumb rest looks bigger than normal, can she still use the same Clarinet case?

Can't comment on clarinet, but I can on a PC mouse....

I had problems with shoulder impingement and the occupational nurse did an assessment at my desk. Both she and the physio I saw said that one issue is that using a standard mouse puts the arm under constant tension as the arm is twisted. If you hold your hands relaxed at your side, your palms are inwards. If you place say your right hand on a mouse, you rotate your forearm about 90 deg anti-clockwise - it is now under tension. So when you use a mouse, your arm is under constant tension.

You can get a vertical mouse, which doesn't require the twist - but you do need to buy a left or right handed one as appropriate. This is what they look like

I have recently started using one (Etude 2 model) but it is on loan this week to my oboe teacher, who was surprisingly impressed with it.

I don't think the rest is going to be as revolutionary for the hand tension problems from which I've been suffering as I had hoped but it does take weight of the first joint of the right-hand thumb, transferring it to the stronger second joint. Also the wider sort-of-hook rest is bigger than a traditional one and distributes the weight more. The Etude2 is a bit plastic-y and probably easily breakable but I received a donation of one from a very kind fellow Forum member, so I have a replacement spare part if necessary. The different feel of the rest takes a bit of getting used to. I don't actually like the flexibility it allows in the horizontal position (feels a bit "loose") and could do with a bit more flexibility on the vertical position. But it could help your thumb problem. I haven't come across any other option in thumb rests. Not for the oboe, at least.

The thumb-hook part of the rest is removable so you can store your clari as normal in its case.

Re PC- caused problems - I was beginning to have early carpal tunnel syndromes and other tension problems and moving to an ergonomic keyboard and a vertical, joystick style mouse as suggested by Tenor Viol has made a huge difference.

Yes, that's not a problem, as the big bit of the thumb rest slides off and lives in one of the empty slots in the clarinet case with all her other bits and bobs. There's just a "mounting plate" permanently attached to the clarinet, and that does not affect how it fits in the case at all. She has the Etude 2.

Thank you, everyone!!

I have now ordered a Ton Kooiman Etude 2 from Dawkes (?17). I will update this thread to let you all know if it helps!

i've used the kooiman etude 2 for a couple of years now and love it. Has got rid of the pain in my hand and makes the clarinet feel more stable , also have the ridenour thumb saddle on my other clarinet which I also think is very good

Hello!

Here I am again: I only ever really post about JDs, Music college vs University and clarinet thumbrests, so I'm crawling out of the woodwork

I have hypermobile fingers which results on me not being able to get a particularly good grip on the clarinet (fingers and thumbs bending backwards, ouch!). I have been through a few different thumbrests and slings, not to mention Alexander Technique lessons and physiotherapy when I was about 19....!

I think you should get the thumbrest moved as the first course of action though, goodness knows why they put them so low down!

I used a sling all through my college degree but found it was making me stand funny and have recently unhooked myself. As regards playing angle though, an elasticated one worked better for me than a solid one. BG do a good one.

I have a Ton Kooiman thumbrest which lasted all of a week and a half before I couldn't cope with it because my hands are quite small and my thumbs especially short. It got relegated to the cupboard. However the saga contunues: The Etude 2 only works for a certain kind of hand shape and size, but there is somebody in Liverpool who adjusts them and I have decided to take the plunge and get mine rebuilt: it's only a half hour job. The problem is that the top of the indentation bit is lower down than where my thumb wants to rest on the hook, so I think he will build it up from the inside to put my playing position back in line.

I will let you know how it goes! In the meantime if anyone wants any details (I'm not being paid to advertise!! ha ha ) please just PM me. Fingers crossed this will work.... life is too long to be in pain!

Just got my Clarinet back with the new thumbrest attached (it's huge!)

I will try it for couple of weeks and then post my review here!

I bought one of these for the cor anglais and I can't make up my mind about it. It is much more comfortable as far as the thumb is concerned but it seems to have transferred the pain to my forearm - it is almost as if it is opening up my hand too much (if that makes any sense)

Hi balu114, How's the new thumb rest? I have been putting up the pain in my right hand thumb also. The Ton Kooiman thumb rest sounds like a great idea. Just wondering does it fit into the case? Does the part that sticks out actaully comes off when you unpack the instrument? I'm considering getting it if I fits in my old case.

Thanks.

The part that sticks out slides off and needs to be stored separately in the case, but it refits very quickly and easily if you have a small case it can be difficult to find a place for it

Hello PumpkinOwl,

It was great and it helped me to play without the neckstrap and other pain. It takes couple of weeks to get used to.

But I have bought a new Clarinet (wood) and I am yet to get it modified. My pain has re-appeared and I need to get the thumbrest quite soon.

As DevonClari has said, it comes off easily and I am able to fit it in my very small clarinet case. Putting it back is a little tricky for the first few times but you will get used to it within few days.

I recommend it!

Regards,
Balu

Thank you all for your advice. I have just ordered my Ton Kooiman Etude 2! Can't wait to try it

I discovered a new saxophone support system recently.

http://www.jazzlab.com/en/saxholder/what-is-saxholder/

I'm not sure if it could be adapted to a clarinet but no doubt Howarths would be able to tell you. I briefly tried one on someone else's oboe and it really does take all the weight in a comfortable way.